GandaTravel 2014-2015Warriors of Aliveness Tourtag:travellerspoint.com,2014-10-11:/blog/?domain=woa2015-10-10 20:21:09.0woahttp://woa.travellerspoint.com/img/travel-blog-feed.pngYear of the Dog and the Butterflytag:travellerspoint.com,2015-09-07:/blog/?domain=woa&thisblog_entryid=152&entryid=5800652015-10-10T20:21:09Z2015-09-11T19:07:31ZWe were both born in the Chinese 'Year of the Horse'.
So why don't we call the year of our "rebirth" the 'Year of the Dog and Butterfly'?
See the dog and butterfly
Up in the air he likes to fly
Dog and butterfly
Below she had to try
She roll back down to the warm soft ground, laughing
She don't know why, she don't know why
Dog and butterfly...
https://youtu.be/Zv69q_oeDOk -Grab this link to hear the son.
Ann Wilson wrote the words to “Dog and Butterfly” but ...We were both born in the Chinese 'Year of the Horse'.

So why don't we call the year of our "rebirth" the 'Year of the Dog and Butterfly'?

See the dog and butterflyUp in the air he likes to flyDog and butterflyBelow she had to tryShe roll back down to the warm soft ground, laughingShe don't know why, she don't know whyDog and butterfly...https://youtu.be/Zv69q_oeDOk -Grab this link to hear the son.

Ann Wilson wrote the words to “Dog and Butterfly” but it was her Sheepdog that inspired the lyrics. Ann watched intently from her bedroom window as her Sheepdog chased a butterfly around the yard. “As Ann watched her dog it struck her as symbolic as to how life can be,” explains Nancy. “When you’re an earthbound creature we’re always jumping and reaching for things we can never really catch, but you try anyway. And that’s the point of the song, we’re always trying to grab at something higher.” ~ Nancy Wilson

Pins, Seaglass and Shells from our Travels

We spent nearly an entire year constantly traveling, chasing dreams, exploring every seashore and hidden city alley or garden that we happened upon. You would need to talk to each one of us to find out what we each drew from this incredible experience. And you could certainly reread our past blog posts to see where our minds were at any particular point in the year.For myself, I've come to see this past year as an opportunity to learn more about the world and myself. Everything has a good/bad element to it but the universal concept of good/bad has certainly evolved in my mind. I learned that when a seemingly "bad" thing happens to us, it actually just turns out to be just a better or "good" thing later on. As an example, I lost a filing in my tooth while on a Caribbean cruise and was desperate to find a dentist. This "bad' event eventually led us to finding a good home and community in the Yucatan city of Merida. After a year of the "bad turning into good' thing, I actually have a mindset that views a bad incident as a gateway to some kind of new, unexpected exciting opportunity. I hope that mindset sticks with me from now on.I also learned that the world is a very big place and that there are ALOT of people in it. The Western world is packed with people from all sorts of backgrounds and dreams. Much of the news we saw on TV or read on the paper had something to do with 'masses of people' going here or there. I imagine that with each new war, or new environmental calamity, the mass migrations of people from one place to another will only continue to get greater and greater. There is also the migration of people like me and Andrea who are looking for a new, better home that speaks to our shared sense of community and culture. Although we were not forced out by war or calamity, we felt our old home was becoming mired in a "poverty of plenty"...plenty of money and things but more impoverished in the areas that really matter.

The issues of 'borders' and 'migrations' seem much more complex and of interest to me and I hope the leaders in the world will work hard to find the best answers to these growing issues. History has shown a pattern of tragic failure but I'm hopeful that the willpower of good, smart people will win out over the lazy and ignorant.

It was the willpower of good, smart people that enacted what is known as "America's Greatest Idea".

It's amazing (and a bit sad) to think that over 100 years ago, American politicians fought to save and preserve the natural beauty that exists throughout the continental U.S. The legendary John Muir was able to convince President Theodore Roosevelt that the U.S. Govt needed to insure that places like Yosemite and Yellowstone were protected by the capitalistic forces that sought to mine and harvest the land. Even more amazing, some of the richest Americans believed that America's natural heritage should be preserved for all time and future generations. People like the Rockefellers (and others) spent their fortunes purchasing private lands so that they can become parks for the public to enjoy.

If there is a "culture" in America, it's mostly an outdoorsy one. People from "sea to shining sea" have access to some of the most beautiful sceneryin the world. States like Wyoming, strongly advocate a balanced relationship between nature, people and resources. Driving across the country, not once but twice, we were able to see people from all walks of life enjoy the beaches, parks, lakes and mountains. Wesaw that the roads into the wilderness and deserts were well kept and included convenient service stops and viewpoints that enable you to justdrive, stop and take in the amazing play between land and sky. Important areas like Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Niagara Falls and other tourist meccas continue to grow and expand to become placesof wonder and learning. At first, we found the crowded, kitschy aspects to the tourist area a bit unsightly but have come to learn that they are necessary evil in order to continue to promote the importance of caring for our natural treasures.

This is a time when kids are more focused on what they see on their e-screens, the job of promoting these natural wonders may become harder and harder and there is a good chance that whole new generations may come to view natural parks as a costly, unnecessary drain on public taxes. But I get the impression that once a young child gets a little exposure to real, raw nature, they could develop a lifelong appreciation for it. However, we all would benefit from the urge to want to build a home right up to the forest or on a mountain too. Buckhorn National Park, one of the oldest parks, is still as pristine as it was 100 years ago and reveals more of what that part of America once looked like. In Lake Tahoe, private development continues to render the area a shadow of its former, natural self.

Beyond the U.S., other countries are relying more and more on the 'value' that their natural treasures bring. This translates into more foreign visitors crisscrossing the globe in search of wondrous, natural beauty. It also means the potential for erosion (both naturally and culturally) for areas that have only known one way-of-life or one religion. Again, it will take the will of good people to help shepherd these changes for the good of all. I think most of the violent reactions we see on the news is in direct relation to these ongoing changes.

The Heart as a Collection of Seaglass

I'm not sure when I decided to view my heart like some object built entirely of seaglass, but when I did, it suddenly made sense to start giving it away. So I went around dropping pieces of it here and there, handing it to special people I know but also to helpful strangers I met along the way as well. The tormenting, inner poet in me tells me I should want to eventually leave this earth without a single piece of heart left in my body. So I need to take a piece out now and then and give it away in the hopes that it will energize and bring hope, love and good fortune to others. Lest someone doesn't want it, they can always throw it back into the sea to tumble for a few centuries until it finds its way to a new, lucky palm. And so life continues and the world turns...It's also amazing to me how the heart and mind perceive the world. I think I wept twice on this journey, first when I learned Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock) died, and when I was in Auschwitz. I had never met Mr. Nimoy in person nor been directly affected by the horrors of the death camps yet I was profoundly moved. Again the poet in me was wrenched at the thought of so many innocent lives destroyed by the hand of man and that, even today, its potential to happen again is unnerving to say the least.

Mr. Nimoy's death required a bit more reflection and understanding. I knew that I wasn't really weeping for Leonard Nimoy the person since I did not know him personally. I was emotional because of the relationship my mind had with the character Spock he played in Star Trek. I believe my mind felt Spock to be so real, and so a part of me, that it attached a part of my heart to him. I realized that everything the character Spock believed in I too believed in. It was as if I had lost the great teacher of life who taught me how to balance emotion with thought. Spock, as your average person would think, was just a 'fantasy' character on some goofy sci-fi program made for the geek set. But, somehow, my mind made him a most important person in my life and I grieved appropriately. It's astonishing the way the mind moves the heart....In conclusion, think of this simple travel blog as another piece of seaglass I've given to you...something shiny and colorful you've decided to look at while scouring the electronic-beach known as the Internet. Thank you for taking to pluck a piece of me from the sandy shore. Maybe you decide to put it in your pocket for keeping, or maybe you decide to throw me back in the water for a little more tumbling. Either way, it's all good because my hope is that, in the brief moment you held me in your hand, you forgot everything and smiled for a moment and forgot all your worries.

So what is a 'Warrior of Aliveness'?It is one who leaves behind all his/her heart for all time.

“You are going on a strange journey this time, my friend. I don't envy you. You'll have a hard time keeping your heart light and simple in the midst of this crowd of madmen. Instead of the music of the wind among the spruce-tops and the tinkling of the waterfalls, your ears will be filled with the oaths and groans of these poor, deluded, self-burdened men. Keep close to Nature's heart, yourself; and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean from the earth-stains of this sordid, gold-seeking crowd in God's pure air. It will help you in your efforts to bring to these men something better than gold. Don't lose your freedom and your love of the Earth as God made it.”-John MuirThis post ends another chapter in our lives. Next, we move on to the Yucatan peninsula into our winter house in Merida. We will then write a new blog describing what it is like to create a home there and its challenges and victories. Warriors of Aliveness" Merida Chapter now online!

Thank you again for watching over us and sharing in this life-changing experience. Until next time, keep on seeking the light.

-ganda

Some Factoids:

of countries visited = 16

of continents = 3

of kilometers/miles = 54158 km / 33654 miles

of times driven across the U.S. = 2

of cruises =2

of homes bought = 1

Northern most point = IcelandSouthern most point = BarbadosWestern most point = California BeachesEastern most point = Istanbul, Turkey

]]>My Favorite Momentstag:travellerspoint.com,2015-09-09:/blog/?domain=woa&thisblog_entryid=153&entryid=5802472015-09-11T18:35:22Z2015-09-11T18:35:22ZNearly one year since we sold our house, our possessions, and quit my job to travel; I managed to lose 15 pounds, learn a lot, and have grown and changed for the better (I hope).
I acknowledge and offer deep gratitude to George for ALL the hard work he did researching, planning, and arranging all these months to make this trip of a lifetime possible and successful! Thank you husband.
Though George and I shared nearly every single day together, we obviously ...Nearly one year since we sold our house, our possessions, and quit my job to travel; I managed to lose 15 pounds, learn a lot, and have grown and changed for the better (I hope).

I acknowledge and offer deep gratitude to George for ALL the hard work he did researching, planning, and arranging all these months to make this trip of a lifetime possible and successful! Thank you husband.

Though George and I shared nearly every single day together, we obviously have different perceptions and personal experiences this past year. I've been thinking about what has affected me the most for this conclusion travel post of my own.

We both have appreciated the opportunities to see friends and family in person (and some on Skype) this year.We both loved visiting and hiking various National Parks.But these are the moments and experiences that stand out the most for me, in somewhat chronological order:- Experiencing Monument Valley in AZ

- The turquoise color of the Caribbean sea

- Going on a Pirate ship and snorkeling in Barbados

- Cancun, Chichen Itza and our first cenote 'Ik Kil', and MERIDA! Oh Merida, you changed our lives. I'm beyond grateful that we met the amazing Maria, and for being welcomed into a community of the best people who make us feel like family. We can't wait to see you all soon.

- Iceland made a bigger impression on me that I expected, in a good way.- The Mediterranean Cruise was an added bonus because it included destinations in Greece and Turkey, and other cities in Italy and France we had never been to. - Hiking along the cliffs in Cadequez.- Feeling more safe in Europe that I do in the states sometimes- I've written this before, but I enjoyed discovering all the new cities in Europe that we had not planned on visiting originally.- Niagara Falls was never on my bucket list, and there we were.

Also, the unexpected blessings of good timing, such as:

-Meeting my Aunts Mildred and Dorothy for lunch in Baltimore on the day of my Aunt Mildred's 94th birthday (which I didn't know prior)!-Arriving in Milan for one night and learning of the World's Fair - and actually going to it.-Arriving in Turin and learning of the Holy Shroud on rare display - and going to see it.-Arriving in Jamestown NY, to see the Lucy & Desi Museum, unbeknownst to us, on Lucille Ball's birthday-Meeting Maria while looking for a dentist in Merida.-Traveling to Europe while the Euro was cheaper.-Driving through the U.S when the gas prices were low.

I've learned:- I don't really need a lot of material stuff, but I still like to spend money on books/e-books. I can definitely get by with fewer clothes and shoes though. - It's pretty simple to get exercise in most days with just a little outdoor space. I did sets of various circuits to work strength and cardio. (i.e. jumping jacks, burpies, walking lunges, jump squats, push ups, planks...) I also did yoga on small floor spaces as often as possible. I discovered Adriene's awesome free yoga videos. - To lessen my grip on irrational thoughts and worries sooner and get on with the day. (This takes constant self awareness and will probably be something I always work on) I did not want to miss being present in each and every day, and I am convinced that both prayer and yoga go a long way!

I still hope to someday travel to South America, Australia, and New Zealand in the future. But now, I really look forward to staying put for a while once we get to Merida. This year has taught me that I do not have a desire to be a digital nomad, but I still agree with my original desire to live in two different places during the year. For now this means Merida, and possibly somewhere on the East Coast (Europe still sounds better to us though down the line).

I look forward to using our resourcefulness (that we learned in Oakland) to furnish our Merida house. I look forward to having guests and trying out Airbnb with our casita. I look forward to finding new ways to generate income and finding/trying new avenues of work. I'm sure there will be more thoughts and more insights down the road, but this blog is coming to and end. I will continue writing and sharing once we create a new blog to 'house' our next chapter.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to read, and to comment. We always enjoy hearing from you. If any post we wrote was helpful or encouraging in any way, I am honored.

My Favorite Moments remains copyright of the author woa, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

]]>Short and sweettag:travellerspoint.com,2015-09-06:/blog/?domain=woa&thisblog_entryid=151&entryid=5799472015-09-07T01:37:21Z2015-09-07T01:37:21Z
We drove from the Bay Area to San Luis Obispo on the Central Coast. Then it was on to Los Angeles the next day.
It's good to see my family. We went out for a delicious Mexican dinner with my folks at La Choza, which has great food, and the nicest owners.
Now we are resting, and taking care of odds and ends, this and that, these and those ...... including loaning our car to our beautiful niece to use during her ...

We drove from the Bay Area to San Luis Obispo on the Central Coast. Then it was on to Los Angeles the next day.It's good to see my family. We went out for a delicious Mexican dinner with my folks at La Choza, which has great food, and the nicest owners.

Now we are resting, and taking care of odds and ends, this and that, these and those ...... including loaning our car to our beautiful niece to use during her senior year.

p.s. George is still working on his post.

Short and sweet remains copyright of the author woa, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

]]>S.F. one year latertag:travellerspoint.com,2015-09-02:/blog/?domain=woa&thisblog_entryid=150&entryid=5795942015-09-03T03:51:07Z2015-09-03T03:51:07ZLast September, after we sold everything and left Oakland, we first spent time with Sylvia, Bill and their adorable doggy Elmo, before leaving the Bay Area. Almost one year later, we arrived back in the Bay Area and had the best reunion with them. We celebrated the end of our long journey with delicious meals, stories, laughs and champagne. It was a perfect way to mark the end of this chapter, with those we love and who love us. ...Last September, after we sold everything and left Oakland, we first spent time with Sylvia, Bill and their adorable doggy Elmo, before leaving the Bay Area. Almost one year later, we arrived back in the Bay Area and had the best reunion with them. We celebrated the end of our long journey with delicious meals, stories, laughs and champagne. It was a perfect way to mark the end of this chapter, with those we love and who love us. (Thanks again for EVERYTHING!)

To be honest, having lived in both Oakland and San Francisco between 1994 - 2014, I am convinced it was the absolute right decision for us to leave the Bay Area. On Monday, I made a trip alone into San Francisco to run some errands and after a couple of hours, I was ready to leave the city. The only connection I feel is to people - the family and the special friends who still live here.

Our next stop is southern CA to see more family, and prepare for fall and winter in Mexico. Since we don't plan on living in Mexico full-time, I am also looking forward to finding a new-second-home ... possibly on the East Coast for spring and summer. Who knows where the winds will blow?

George will soon write a final post to close out this travel blog. Stay tuned!

S.F. one year later remains copyright of the author woa, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

]]>A Cocktail and a Gunfighttag:travellerspoint.com,2015-08-28:/blog/?domain=woa&thisblog_entryid=149&entryid=5791022015-08-29T01:27:35Z2015-08-29T01:18:53ZFive years ago, I had been first exposed to the good storytelling from the TV show 'Bonanza'. Later, on a trip to Lake Tahoe, we went to Virginia City, Nevada (the town from Bonanza) for a night.
As this cross-country road trip is coming to an end, we decided to revisit Virginia City today on our drive through Nevada. It's such a charming town with its original buildings and history. As we strolled the wood plank sidewalks, a cowboy ...Five years ago, I had been first exposed to the good storytelling from the TV show 'Bonanza'. Later, on a trip to Lake Tahoe, we went to Virginia City, Nevada (the town from Bonanza) for a night.

As this cross-country road trip is coming to an end, we decided to revisit Virginia City today on our drive through Nevada. It's such a charming town with its original buildings and history. As we strolled the wood plank sidewalks, a cowboy invited us to the 'Gunfight' at 1pm.

The ticket to the show includes a dollar off a drink at the Washoe Club across the street, which happens to be where we got engaged. We got a cocktail and found a seat on the bleachers. The Gunfight was a half hour of humor, audience participation, and shootouts. We both had a great time.

We even took selfies with the actors.

Here are few pics from this afternoon, including a Hoss Cartwright sighting.

We officially crossed into California....and will be resting in Lake Tahoe over the weekend before heading to the warmth of sister Sylvia.

p.s. Happy 55th Anniversary Mom & Dad! xoxo

p.p.s As I write this blog, the movie 'Casablanca' is on the TV. A scene in the casino shows Rick 'Humphrey Bogart) helping a young couple out by letting them win at Roulette. The ball falls on #22, the very same lucky number in the pic with George above. Time to head to the casino!

]]>Scenes from the roadtag:travellerspoint.com,2015-08-26:/blog/?domain=woa&thisblog_entryid=148&entryid=5788782015-08-27T14:04:09Z2015-08-27T14:04:09ZHere are some scenes from the road and rest stops in Wyoming:
[img=http://photos.traveller ...Here are some scenes from the road and rest stops in Wyoming:

]]>Grand Teton National Parktag:travellerspoint.com,2015-08-25:/blog/?domain=woa&thisblog_entryid=147&entryid=5787052015-08-26T01:51:53Z2015-08-26T01:51:53Z
On Monday we drove around Grand Teton National Park. It has a different landscape than Yellowstone. We stopped a few times along the Teton Park Road.
[img=http://photos.travellerspoint.com/716572/Tet ...

On Monday we drove around Grand Teton National Park. It has a different landscape than Yellowstone. We stopped a few times along the Teton Park Road.

We spent most of the day at Jenny Lake where we had lunch, and did the Hidden Falls hike, about 3 miles.

Another gorgeous day in a beautiful national park.

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in where Nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul alike." ~John Muir

]]>Yellowstonetag:travellerspoint.com,2015-08-24:/blog/?domain=woa&thisblog_entryid=146&entryid=5786102015-08-25T23:57:04Z2015-08-25T23:57:04ZSomewhere around 37 years ago, my summer vacation took place in a family-camper-van we borrowed from my Uncle Sol, and my dad drove it from Los Angeles to Yellowstone National Park. All I remember is: 1) Old Faithful geyser, and the rotten-egg smell of sulfur. 2) Stopping at the Great Salt Lake, and the Donny and Marie Osmond studio in Utah (my sister and I were big fans then). 3) Staying a night at Circus Circus in Las Vegas, Nevada. ...Somewhere around 37 years ago, my summer vacation took place in a family-camper-van we borrowed from my Uncle Sol, and my dad drove it from Los Angeles to Yellowstone National Park. All I remember is: 1) Old Faithful geyser, and the rotten-egg smell of sulfur. 2) Stopping at the Great Salt Lake, and the Donny and Marie Osmond studio in Utah (my sister and I were big fans then). 3) Staying a night at Circus Circus in Las Vegas, Nevada. But I digress, the destination and my subject is Yellowstone.

George and I spent a day driving in Yellowstone National Park.

We were immediately welcomed by bison in the middle of the road.

We stopped at various points of interest and walked around different thermal pool areas.

We walked our lunch off at the' Artists Paint-pots' area.

This was my favorite stop. The pools were were unique and beautiful bubbling 'paint' colors, unlike other pools we'd seen.

Of course we drove to see Old Faithful in all its glory. It's the biggest attraction with the biggest parking lot and visitor area. There are designated walking paths around Old Faithful, and other geysers, and thermal pools. There are rows of benches to view the Old Faithful performance. This is all new since my last visit as a kid.

There is too much too see in only one day in this massive park. It is well-maintained, there is a lot of wildlife (no, we didn't see any bears), and the preserved national parks are of the best things about America.

Yellowstone remains copyright of the author woa, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

]]>A Trip Through Bighorntag:travellerspoint.com,2015-08-22:/blog/?domain=woa&thisblog_entryid=145&entryid=5784302015-08-23T03:50:59Z2015-08-23T03:41:52ZWe left Sheridan early in the morning and took highway 14 towards Cody, our stop for the night. This takes us through some of the most incredible country I've seen on our trip. Quickly we enter Bighorn National Forest.
Per Wikipedia "Bighorn National Forest is located in northern Wyoming, United States and consists of over 1.1 million acres (4,500 km²). Created as a US Forest Reserve in 1897, it is one of the oldest government-protected forest lands in ...We left Sheridan early in the morning and took highway 14 towards Cody, our stop for the night. This takes us through some of the most incredible country I've seen on our trip. Quickly we enter Bighorn National Forest. Per Wikipedia "Bighorn National Forest is located in northern Wyoming, United States and consists of over 1.1 million acres (4,500 km²). Created as a US Forest Reserve in 1897, it is one of the oldest government-protected forest lands in the U.S. The forest is well east of the continental divide and extends from the Montana border for a distance of 80 miles (130 km) along the spine of the Big Horn Mountains, an outlying mountain range separated from the rest of the Rocky Mountains by Bighorn Basin."

It was a beautiful day and very little traffic perhaps because everyone was returning to their regular lives and schools. But the thing most striking about driving through Bighorn is how pristine and natural everything looks. There is very little evidence of residential or commercial impact anywhere in this beautiful mountain park. The roads were excellent too. I'd guess they weren't older than five years or so.

We didn't know anything about the forest except we that we had to drive through it to get to Cody and then Yellowstone. But now this forest is perhaps one of my favorite places to drive through, filled with incredible visual splendor and glorious light and nature. There was a family of moose just off the road and we also stopped at Shell Falls and took in the breathtaking scenery. Here are some pics to entice you to come here some day.After a long day, we enjoyed some Chinese food and watched the sunset in Cody.

]]>The Good, The Bad and The Uglytag:travellerspoint.com,2015-08-21:/blog/?domain=woa&thisblog_entryid=144&entryid=5783132015-08-22T13:49:51Z2015-08-22T13:49:51Z'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly'
I think I've used that title for a blog entry more than once but we
are in Wyoming country now and it seems appropriate for this new entry.
This entry is best read while listening to this music. [i]Copy this https://youtu.be/PYI09PMNazw and open in another window please. Enjoy!
We are currently in Sheridan, Wy located between South Dakota's Black
Hills National Park and Wyoming's Yellowstone Park. This region is
knee-deep in history related ...'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly'

I think I've used that title for a blog entry more than once but weare in Wyoming country now and it seems appropriate for this new entry.This entry is best read while listening to this music. [i]Copy this https://youtu.be/PYI09PMNazw and open in another window please. Enjoy!

We are currently in Sheridan, Wy located between South Dakota's BlackHills National Park and Wyoming's Yellowstone Park. This region isknee-deep in history related to (mostly bloody) U.S. and Native American relations. It took us about 17 days to get here from Boston and wedrove and hiked through amazing landscapes and into big/small cities. There are times when our travel energy gets low but then we see oldfriends who help recharge our batteries so we can complete this almostyear-long journey.

Originally we had planned on driving down to Florida where wewould fly to Chicago and Minnesota to visit friends. Then we wouldtry and catch a new ferry service back to Merida for Fall and Winter. As it turned out, the new ferry service never materialized and Andrea'sniece back in So. Calif. happened to be need of a car for her senioryear in high school.

Soooo we made the amazing decision to drive back across the countryin the Spark. After 4 months in storage, the car started up and resumed the drive. Boston in August is much nicer than it was in Aprilbut I still remember the bitter cold. As usual, the weather dicatedwhich way we would go. A severe storm just south of us meant we neededto stay more north, taking a drive path that took us to Albany, New Yorkand then to Buffalo, New York. We drove along the edge of the stormand we were occasionally socked by torrential rains that came from nowhereand lasted 15 minutes or so. That brings me to the 'Ugly' in the title.

...The Ugly

Driving conditions for us this year were mostly good and occasionally very ugly.

This big, beautiful land called America is filled with extreme weatherconditions that arrive very quickly and very powerfully. It seemed this year wasfilled with highly unusual weather conditions and we constantly hadto monitor the weather conditions to see if it was safe to drive.Our trip started from California in the Fall and everything was fineuntil October when winter blew across the country with a vengeance. Thewinter driving conditions forced us to escape to Mexico's Yucatan wherewe were ended up buying a winter home in Merida. When we returned in early Spring, winter still had its grip on much of theU.S and we needed to avoid unseasonable snow and ice-stormseven on the most southern edges of the Southwest.

We had a brief respite while driving through Florida and up through theCarolinas but cold and snow greeted us when we hit New York and New England. Even in early April, snow was everywhere along this part of the eastern seaboard and Boston was still a bone-chilling, snow-covered mess by the time we arrived to catch our flight to Europe in April.

It's August now in America and we are driving through a cornucopia ofsomewhat challenging driving conditions. Tomorrow's weather report says strong winds are expected. The vast openness ofthe Wyoming lands make it easy for strong winds to blow our subcompact car around.

Today, we are dealing with haze generated by all the smoke from the variety of wildfires currently plaguing the western states. Windowsstay rolled and the smoke shrouded mountains around us appear as ifthere is some kind of ancient Indian 'smoke signal' war going on.

A few days ago, we drove through the kind of thunderstorm that drops rainso heavy you can barely see more than 20 feet in front of you.

A few days before that, clear sky gives way to very dark ominous clouds aswe drive along the edge of a severe thunderstorm while driving throughOhio to Chicago, Illinois. It can be disconcerting when a favoritesong on the radio is suddenly interrupted to alert you that a tornadomay possibly pop up in your vicinity. The alert is thorough in its information in what you should do if your faced with a tornado. Hey, weare from California. What do we know about tornadoes??

So, for us on this trip, 'ugly' has been the weather challenges whiledriving. If that is all we have to call "ugly" then this has truly beena damn good trip!

Of course when we hit Buffalo, NY we must see Niagara Falls. It was neveron our minds, when we arrived back in Boston, that we would see NiagaraFalls but that is where the weather pushed us. I had no expectationsof the Falls other than it being some kind of crazy tourist trap but I was surprised by how impressed I was by the power of the Falls eventhough it seemed to be at maybe 1/4 it's true flow.From there we drove down towards Pennsylvania, stopping in Jamestownto visit the Lucy and Desi Museum on Lucille Ball's Birthday. We didn't plan that. It just happened that way. We checked out Pittsburgh and got a first taste of the massive infrastructureprojects that seem to be going on in nearly every city we've hit. Typical4 lane freeways are shrunk to one and we move at a snail's pace which makesour average 4 hour drives even more of a drudgery.We march on through Ohio and Indiana and into Illinois to stop for a3 night stay at 'Jupiter's Airbnb'. This brings me to the 'Good'.

....The GoodDriving for several hours through unfamiliar territory, checking intonew hotel rooms practically every night and constantly planning ournext destination can wear a person down. But we both looked forwardto staying at Jupiter AirBnb located near famous Wrigleyville, homeof the Chicago Cubs and our good friend Adam. I met Adam during mypoetry administration days in San Francisco but he, like many smart,talented, creative types left the Bay Area for a different life.Andrea and I both enjoyed seeing the face of somebody we know andenjoyed the shared meals and incredible warmth that only a specialfriend can provide. Despite his busy life, Adam took us in for aslong as we wanted to stay and gave us the key to the city and his apartmentThe weather happened to be great during our time in Chicago so we were able to see the beach, tour Millennium Park, take in a free concert andeven go out and see the Perseid Meteor shower. I think I did seeone shooting star.After we left Chicago, we stopped in Minneapolis, MN where we met upwith our friends David and Marilyn Bengtson. It also so happens thatI met David via my poetry administration life way back when. After a nice lunch, we unexpectedly (some might even say "mistakenly") signed up for one of Minneapolis' "Best Hidden" walking tour titled, 'Bob's Pierless Tour and Ice CreamHunt'. We knew this tour would be good since Trip Advisor named this tour, "Best Hidden."This lively, three-hour tour (unlike the crew from the TV show 'Gilligan')did not end up on a desert island but it did seem to come with a similarstoryline and laugh track. The tour basically begins with somebody makinga seemingly innocuous comment like, "I'd like some ice cream." What you getin return is a thorough tour of 3-4 blocks of downtown Minneapolis on ahot day culminating in enjoying something that ends up not being icecream at all. I could go on but you really had to be there. Andrea andI give this tour a '10' on Trip Advisor for the warmth, kindness, humorand friendship Bob, and his co-conspirator Betty, showed us during ourtoo brief stay. The tour ends with the obligatory tour pics includingshots with the famous Mary Tyler Moore statue which Bob insists, "reallyis there. You just have to squint really hard."

After our goodbyes, we get back in the car and we are both feeling chargedwith energy as if we just started our long trip that day. Maybe it was somethingin that faux ice cream or perhaps it was something about Bob and Betty?Maybe Bob and Betty were really aliens from another planet who gave usnew energy in return for a few simple, colorful pieces of sea-glass we combedfrom some Mediterranean Beach a few months earlier. I mean, doesn't it seemstrange to you that a walking tour only charges customers pieces of sea-glass??

It was after leaving Minnesota that we once again faced more challengingweather conditions including driving through the edge of another severestorm. This one was the worst and was thankful that we made it through alright.

We drove passed cornfields and sunflower fieldsd in S. Dakota, stopping at the world famous Corn Palace known for its murals made entirely of corn. We then hunkered down for a few days in Kadoka, South Dakota. From there we get to the 'Bad'.

....the Bad.The Badlands that is. The storm moved east and a bright, glorious morningwelcomed us. We hoped in the car and entered the amazing Badlands National Park. A mixture of Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and Iceland it seemed tous. Walking through the terrain felt like being on another planet andthe 60 mile drive through the park was filled with opportunities to justpull over and take in the views.

After the Badlands we take it views of Mt. Rushmore, Keystone, Lead, Deadwood and theincredible Black Hills of South Dakota.Next stop for us is Yellowstone National Park and then on to Salt LakeCity!

]]>Chi ca gotag:travellerspoint.com,2015-08-13:/blog/?domain=woa&thisblog_entryid=143&entryid=5774822015-08-14T00:34:06Z2015-08-14T00:34:06ZWe rolled into Chicago on Monday afternoon stayed at our pal Adam's place in Wrigleyville. Yep, walking distance from the Cubs Wrigley Field, a nice and very walk-able neighborhood. I found "Candyality" a local candy store that carries a surprising selection of black licorice. I was able to pick up a nice assortment for my dad - the biggest fan of black licorice I've ever known.
[img=htt ...We rolled into Chicago on Monday afternoon stayed at our pal Adam's place in Wrigleyville. Yep, walking distance from the Cubs Wrigley Field, a nice and very walk-able neighborhood. I found "Candyality" a local candy store that carries a surprising selection of black licorice. I was able to pick up a nice assortment for my dad - the biggest fan of black licorice I've ever known.

I got to spend a day with my friend Gosia, and her friend Ola, at her vitamin store Herbovit. It was fun to catch up, learn about different supplements, and go out for a nice lunch. I appreciated the opportunity to spend a day with the girls.

A mural in action:

We went to Millennium Park which did not exist on my last visit to Chicago 20 years ago!

Buckingham Fountain

We attended a free concert in the park, along with the local Chicagoans on the lawn with blankets, chairs, picnics, wine, etc. on a beautiful summer night.

There are other interesting areas in the park, including a cool water area/feature with lights and video.

We had such a nice time catching up with friends and experiencing Chicago from a local's perspective. Thanks for the hospitality Adam.

Chi ca go remains copyright of the author woa, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

]]>Pittsburghtag:travellerspoint.com,2015-08-12:/blog/?domain=woa&thisblog_entryid=142&entryid=5773682015-08-12T17:14:45Z2015-08-12T17:14:45ZHello... just posting a quick update. We spent a couple of days in Pittsburgh exploring the city a little , looking at properties, and went to the Pittsburgh Botanical Garden.
[img=http://photos.traveller ...Hello... just posting a quick update. We spent a couple of days in Pittsburgh exploring the city a little , looking at properties, and went to the Pittsburgh Botanical Garden.

Then we drove to Toledo Ohio where there is nothing interesting to report. Then on to Chicago where we are now enjoying time with friends and beautiful weather.

Pittsburgh remains copyright of the author woa, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

]]>Back in the U.S.A.tag:travellerspoint.com,2015-08-07:/blog/?domain=woa&thisblog_entryid=141&entryid=5769282015-08-08T13:39:20Z2015-08-08T13:39:20Z
We picked up our car in Boston, and have resumed our road-trip . We decided to drive cross-country back to California, stopping to see friends and family along the way before heading back to Mexico in early Fall. We are stopping in some cities we haven't been to before, and doing a little sight-seeing along the way, as well as, scout out potential new residence locations.
We drove through Albany and Buffalo, NY... and stopped to see Niagara Falls.
[img=http://photos.travellerspoint.com ...We picked up our car in Boston, and have resumed our road-trip . We decided to drive cross-country back to California, stopping to see friends and family along the way before heading back to Mexico in early Fall. We are stopping in some cities we haven't been to before, and doing a little sight-seeing along the way, as well as, scout out potential new residence locations.

We drove through Albany and Buffalo, NY... and stopped to see Niagara Falls.

Then we drove to Jamestown, NY, where Lucille Ball was born, and get this, on August 6, 1911. Here we are on August 6, 2015! What are the chances? It sounded fun to visit the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum and Center for Comedy dedicated to the lives and careers of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.

The studio portion has recreated sets of the NY apartment kitchen and living room, and the living room suite in Hollywood, from the I Love Lucy show. There are clothes and various items on display. Note the belt warn by Lucy in the "Martian episode," which was previously warn by Buster Crabbe in the Flash Gordon series!Lucy and Desi were both talented , smart, beautiful/handsome people, and I will never tire of watching "I Love Lucy."

We also managed to catch the last episode of the Daily Show, and see the gratitude and send-off for the brilliant Jon Stewart. #jonvoyage

Friday we made our way to Pittsburgh. It was a beautiful drive through the Allegheny National Forrest.

We stopped at a park in New Bethlehem for a lunch break where there happened to be a Farmer's Market stand and baked goods sale. Of course I had to check it out since I love produce and baked goodies! I bought the peanut blossom cookies from an Amish girl. But the peaches were a perfect blend of flavor, juiciness, and sweetness!

Back in the U.S.A. remains copyright of the author woa, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

]]>Iceland Part 2tag:travellerspoint.com,2015-08-02:/blog/?domain=woa&thisblog_entryid=138&entryid=5764192015-08-08T13:41:43Z2015-08-02T21:44:37ZWe had a short flight from Dublin to Keflavik Iceland today. The weather is much warmer now than it was back in April.
We walked from the airport to our accommodation. The ground was soft and felt like a spongy-memory-foam! We are staying in a cute cabin,
like a tiny house.
[img=http://photos.travellerspoint.com/716572/Keflavik_alexcab ...We had a short flight from Dublin to Keflavik Iceland today. The weather is much warmer now than it was back in April.

We walked from the airport to our accommodation. The ground was soft and felt like a spongy-memory-foam! We are staying in a cute cabin,like a tiny house.

Here are a few views of some nature-walk-exploration:

Iceland Part 2 remains copyright of the author woa, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

]]>Sunny Spells/Bin the Pootag:travellerspoint.com,2015-08-01:/blog/?domain=woa&thisblog_entryid=137&entryid=5763072015-08-03T12:21:23Z2015-08-01T20:26:34ZScenes from our last full day in Dublin.
I took a nice yoga class at The Yoga Room this morning, and later we had a little lunch at Herbert Park on this first day of August with 'sunny spells' as they say on weather reports here.
Tomorrow we begin our journey back to the states, with a stop in Iceland again, for one day.
We saw these signs all around Dublin:
...Scenes from our last full day in Dublin.I took a nice yoga class at The Yoga Room this morning, and later we had a little lunch at Herbert Park on this first day of August with 'sunny spells' as they say on weather reports here.Tomorrow we begin our journey back to the states, with a stop in Iceland again, for one day.

]]>Last days in Dublintag:travellerspoint.com,2015-07-31:/blog/?domain=woa&thisblog_entryid=136&entryid=5761982015-07-31T15:16:42Z2015-07-31T15:16:42Z[float=right][/float]Our days are coming to an end in Dublin.
We stayed in Shankill for two weeks in a charming apartment, at a very nice location, through airbnb. We only briefly met the owner/host who happens to be a writer and poet!
One day we visited the Irish Film Institute to see a couple of movies, '[[http://www.ifi.ie/film-amy|Am ...

Our days are coming to an end in Dublin.

We stayed in Shankill for two weeks in a charming apartment, at a very nice location, through airbnb. We only briefly met the owner/host who happens to be a writer and poet!

Now we are staying in Booterstown (closer to the city center) for our last week, in a private room, in an older house, also booked through airbnb. Our host here is very nice and she has a couple of other guests staying here as well. My preference is a private bathroom, but this one is shared. If I think of it as an old time 'boarding house' it feels more nostalgic and like an adventure. (In George's case, a tent in the woods would be more fun and adventurous) Although we haven't met the other people staying here, we hang out in our little room and use the good wifi, read, rest, eat 'take-away' food, and I even do yoga in the little available floor space.

Down the road we tried this quaint (breakfast and lunch) restaurant, Peacock Green. As you can see, it's a lovely Victorian interior! We have gone for breakfast three days in a row.

After four months abroad, I am ready to return to the U.S. and road-trip back to California with stops to explore some cities of interest, and visit friends along the way. However; I thought I would tackle the question we are most asked, "What are your favorite places?"

It's a hard question and I don't really have a short answer. Of course I liked some places better than others, but overall we have had good experiences everywhere and have seen and learned so much!

Edinburgh Scotland was beautiful. We have spent a lot of time in Dublin which we think is a great city, even in this cold and rainy summer. I enjoyed our stay with friend Martina in Dortmund where we went on a nice group hike with her friends, and attended a little dinner party at Tammy's apartment, over a raclette grill (with lots of wine flowing) which was a fun experience.We both enjoyed Lisbon and Faro, Portugal very much.Seville was nice, but we enjoyed Valencia more, with the fun tour we took, and going to see the Holy Grail.We loved our time in Albisola Marina, Italy and Cadaquez Spain, staying close to the Mediterranean beaches (and finding lots of sea-glass). It was also fun to meet up with my cousins Betsy & David in Barcelona, and Martin & Jamie in Dublin, and to run into friends Joan & Philip our first time in Dublin back in April!

I can also tell you that the cities we stayed in that we'd never heard of, or just arrived on short notice seem to come to my mind first for their unexpected adventures and discoveries. For example, Warrington England where I had my haircut by Fabienne, exploring Padua, Italy where I happened to find the specific earrings my friend Heather was looking for, and Wroclaw, Poland which Gosia recommended was where we enjoyed the most beautiful botanical garden.

The Mediterranean cruise was another highlight for sure. It gave us the chance to visit Greece and Turkey and places in Italy we hadn't been to before, like Pompeii. I'd have to say the whole trip was a great experience and it's still hard to believe we had the opportunity to stay in Europe and the UK for four months! If you cornered me and asked if I would want to go back to any of the places we visited, my answer would be.......I'd like to see more of Austria, I would go back to Spain and Portugal, and I'd go on another cruise. This could be subject to change, but that's my best answer at this time.

p.s. I got totally hooked on the cereal Müsli [ˈmyːsliː]) is a breakfast dish based on raw rolled oats and other ingredients including grains, fresh or dried fruits, seeds and nuts, and may be mixed with cow's milk, soy milk, almond milk, yogurt or fruit juice. Developed around 1900 by Swiss physician Maximilian Bircher-Benner for patients in his hospital, muesli is available in a packaged dry form, ready made, or freshly made. -wikipedia

Last days in Dublin remains copyright of the author woa, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

]]>Signpoststag:travellerspoint.com,2015-07-15:/blog/?domain=woa&thisblog_entryid=135&entryid=5743432015-07-22T20:43:57Z2015-07-22T20:43:57ZI like to know where I am going.
When hiking, I am comforted when signposts appear and confirm we are on the right path. In life, the signposts can be harder to spot. George does a great job researching and planning our travel arrangements. The navigation is often directed by dates and costs to determine destinations. For example, because Liverpool was too expensive, we had a great experience when we opted to go to Warrington, England (16 miles from ...I like to know where I am going. When hiking, I am comforted when signposts appear and confirm we are on the right path. In life, the signposts can be harder to spot. George does a great job researching and planning our travel arrangements. The navigation is often directed by dates and costs to determine destinations. For example, because Liverpool was too expensive, we had a great experience when we opted to go to Warrington, England (16 miles from Liverpool) instead. A couple of other cities we hadn't heard of became new destinations due to logistics, cost, or extended-stays like Albisola Marina and Padua, Italy, and Cadaquez Spain. Again, we enjoyed those new places very much.

However, when we head back to the U.S. (via Iceland), the only certainties are a return cross-country road-trip to California, with a couple of stops to see friends (yay!). The next certainty is returning to Mérida, Yucatán Mexico around early October, and focus on our house. There will be plenty of work to do. (Plus learn Spanish!) The bigger questions I continue to ask are; what I am going to do for a new income-generating-career, and where else might we live outside of Mexico? I pray, write a lot, look for signs, and pay attention. Once in awhile I receive a message or sign that I know is for me personally and it warms my heart because I know the Lord hears me.

I am not proud to admit that sometimes when I receive suggestions from my husband, I get defensive and resistant. I know, it's crazy, but true. I don't want to be the old guy Brooks from' Shawshank Redemption' who couldn't make it on the 'outside' after being released from prison. Ever since I left my 'lifetime sentence' of corporate jobs ten months ago, I'm still learning what this freedom requires. I am prone to tread the well-worn paths while the road less traveled, makes all the difference according to Robert Frost. Deep down, that is really the path I want to take! If only I would readily go that way. It's so natural for George, but he shouldn't have to drag me along while I resist most of the way. (Meshuggah I know!) Plus, I should also know, 'resistance is futile.' So as I figure out what I am willing to start doing, I will just take a step because sometimes you just have to get some motion started. Then keep moving one step at a time while looking for the next signpost to appear.

Signposts remains copyright of the author woa, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

]]>July in Dublintag:travellerspoint.com,2015-07-15:/blog/?domain=woa&thisblog_entryid=134&entryid=5743422015-07-15T19:41:50Z2015-07-15T19:41:50ZWe flew back to Dublin to stay for three weeks of rest before heading back to the U.S. We spent the first couple of nights at a B&B, then a hotel, then took a nice long walk from Donnybrook to Leopardstown.
Fortunately we usually find nice green spaces for a short rest when schlepping the bags.
Leopardstown is actually a new area complete with modern apartments surrounded by hi-tech companies like Microsoft. ...We flew back to Dublin to stay for three weeks of rest before heading back to the U.S. We spent the first couple of nights at a B&B, then a hotel, then took a nice long walk from Donnybrook to Leopardstown. Fortunately we usually find nice green spaces for a short rest when schlepping the bags.

Leopardstown is actually a new area complete with modern apartments surrounded by hi-tech companies like Microsoft. We were hungry and the only place to grab a bite to eat was at the few food booths. It was lunchtime so we stood in line with all the young, hip, tech types wearing their corporate badges Andrea remembers that old corporate life from SF and it was kind of fun standing there with our backpacks and 10 months of travel sweat on our brow.

We later had time to visit Dublin center again and heard the song 'Moon River' being played by a couple of street musicians. Since then, we've heard that song come up 5 days in a row in the most unexpected places. Yesterday we heard it while watching Chevy Chase's movie 'Fletch'. Chevy sang a bar whilst being probed by the proctologist. If you've been following this blog, then you know 'Moon River' seems to have a mysterious presence wherever we go. I wonder why?

This time we are using airbnb for longer stays. The first two weeks we are staying in Shankill which is close to Bray, where we did a nice long hike our first time in Dublin (back in April). This is a cute small town with a big park, hiking trails and the sea all in walking distance. The one-bedroom apartment we rented is the home of a writer/poet.

July in Dublin remains copyright of the author woa, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

]]>One night in Copenhagentag:travellerspoint.com,2015-07-10:/blog/?domain=woa&thisblog_entryid=133&entryid=5736882015-07-15T11:39:46Z2015-07-15T11:39:46ZWe had a late flight to Copenhagen and arrived just before midnight so we had one day to see some of the sights like the picturesque Nyhaven (New Harbour), the 17th-century waterfront, canal and entertainment district, where Danish author, Hans Christian Anderson lived for some years. We hiked around the city and found The Little Mermaid bronze statue by Edvard Eriksen. [i]The sculpture is displayed on a rock by the waterside at the Langelinie promenade in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is ...We had a late flight to Copenhagen and arrived just before midnight so we had one day to see some of the sights like the picturesque Nyhaven (New Harbour), the 17th-century waterfront, canal and entertainment district, where Danish author, Hans Christian Anderson lived for some years. We hiked around the city and found The Little Mermaid bronze statue by Edvard Eriksen. The sculpture is displayed on a rock by the waterside at the Langelinie promenade in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is 1.25 metres tall and weighs 175 kilograms. -wiki

Copenhagen is a quaint, pretty city with numerous construction projects going on. The subway system is clean and on-time but it was difficult, at times, to understand the logic of how things operate here. The language is hard but most people can speak English. It's also a very expensive city so be prepared to pay through the nose for everything! However, the parks are free and full of greenery and life so put on your hiking shoes and breath in the Copenhagen air! Sometimes the rain hits unexpectedly and you might need to channel your inner 'Dali' and invent a rain hat like I did!!

]]>Krakow and Warsaw tag:travellerspoint.com,2015-07-10:/blog/?domain=woa&thisblog_entryid=132&entryid=5736862015-07-15T11:31:17Z2015-07-15T11:31:17ZIn Krakow we rented an apartment for a couple of nights. It was nice to have space, and a kitchen. George even made french toast.
Some views from our walks around the city.
[img=http://photos.travellerspoint.com/716572 ...In Krakow we rented an apartment for a couple of nights. It was nice to have space, and a kitchen. George even made french toast.

Some views from our walks around the city.

We stayed outside of Warsaw, in Modlin for one night.

We took the train to Warsaw for an afternoon wandering and exploring.

Krakow and Warsaw remains copyright of the author woa, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

]]>Why You Will Never Find Your Soul Matetag:travellerspoint.com,2015-07-03:/blog/?domain=woa&thisblog_entryid=131&entryid=5728922015-07-03T18:46:17Z2015-07-03T18:46:17Z
Our train rolled passed the old railroad tracks.
Weeds and colorful wildflowers sprout through the rusty rails.
They bloom once again like their ancestors did when the holocaust trains rolled by
carrying thousands and thousands of humans to their doom at Auschwitz.
These weeds all stood straight up, saluting us as we rolled by.
Were they thanking us for their existence because of the blood, sweat and
tears that spilled from the hot holocast trains that watered their ancestors?
Yes, the doomed watered the ...Our train rolled passed the old railroad tracks.

Weeds and colorful wildflowers sprout through the rusty rails.They bloom once again like their ancestors did when the holocaust trains rolled by carrying thousands and thousands of humans to their doom at Auschwitz.

These weeds all stood straight up, saluting us as we rolled by.Were they thanking us for their existence because of the blood, sweat and tears that spilled from the hot holocast trains that watered their ancestors?

Yes, the doomed watered the vegatation along this route.The doom watered the seeds of their parents, grandparents greatgrandparents etc...

And these weeds and wildflowers live because no one pulled out theirancestors from the soil or sprayed them with poisonous gas. They continueto live on for another year, to seed for the next and the next.

But the doomed on the trains that rolled past the flora ancestors wereindeed yanked from their soil and sprayed with poison so they would neverseed again.

Those seeds. They never existed.

And it is these unexisted children and grandchildren that could have been the love of your life, or the ones to solve the world's problems. Maybe youwonder why you're so lonely, why no one understands you, why you have no friends. There is a simple answer to that. They were murdered longbefore they existed.

]]>Katowice & Auschwitz, Polandtag:travellerspoint.com,2015-07-02:/blog/?domain=woa&thisblog_entryid=129&entryid=5727742015-07-03T14:47:39Z2015-07-03T14:47:39ZWe took a train to Katowice, Poland. We stayed in a nice apartment right in the main area near the train station. I don't think we've stayed right in the core of the center before. Conveniences galore.
Our apartment kitchen where I cooked a pasta dinner! I really enjoyed having a kitchen to cook in again.
While in Katowice, we decided to to go see Auschwitz and Birkenau. It's a pretty heavy-hearted experience and I will share some photos but not ...We took a train to Katowice, Poland. We stayed in a nice apartment right in the main area near the train station. I don't think we've stayed right in the core of the center before. Conveniences galore.

Our apartment kitchen where I cooked a pasta dinner! I really enjoyed having a kitchen to cook in again.

While in Katowice, we decided to to go see Auschwitz and Birkenau. It's a pretty heavy-hearted experience and I will share some photos but not a lot of words. I'll admit it felt a little creepy taking a train there.

To visit Auschwitz, you first have to make an online reservation (don't wait until the last minute), but it is free to enter. They are strict about the entry times too. We did not go with a tour, nor get the headset guide. George felt we didn't need them.

We entered a building where there had been mass killings and I was overcome with sadness. My eyes started tearing, then stinging, I felt a big lump in my throat, then my ears and throat felt a burning sensation. It was painful. Physically and emotionally.

]]>European Capital of Culture 2016tag:travellerspoint.com,2015-07-02:/blog/?domain=woa&thisblog_entryid=128&entryid=5727722015-07-03T05:49:07Z2015-07-03T05:49:07Z
Wroclaw Poland was a city we'd never heard of until my friend Gosia suggested it. (Thanks Gosia!) Wroclaw has belonged to different countries, but became part of Poland in 1945, due to border changes after WW2. We also learned that Wroclaw was chosen as one of the cities for the 2016 European Capital of Culture. That explains a lot of the current construction going on.
[img=http://pho ...Wroclaw Poland was a city we'd never heard of until my friend Gosia suggested it. (Thanks Gosia!) Wroclaw has belonged to different countries, but became part of Poland in 1945, due to border changes after WW2. We also learned that Wroclaw was chosen as one of the cities for the 2016 European Capital of Culture. That explains a lot of the current construction going on.

We walked around the old town, the bridges along the Oder (Odra) River. But hands down, our favorite place was the Botanical Garden (Ogród Botaniczny). It is so beautiful and inviting. Of the many botanical gardens we've been to in the U.S. and Europe, this is a top favorite.

Wroclaw is very walkable, has a good tram system, and some good pizza.

]]>Never Tear Us Aparttag:travellerspoint.com,2015-06-27:/blog/?domain=woa&thisblog_entryid=127&entryid=5720762015-06-28T18:29:36Z2015-06-28T18:29:36ZIt is no secret INXS is my favorite band ever. The song "Never Tear Us Apart" was filmed in Prague, and released in August 1988 (on the KICK album). Arriving in Prague I had a new mission. Yep, to find the locations in the video, and I am very grateful that George is a good sport and helped me find them. My pictures are in the areas and general proximity, not exact.
Around the brown brick building on the left ...It is no secret INXS is my favorite band ever. The song "Never Tear Us Apart" was filmed in Prague, and released in August 1988 (on the KICK album). Arriving in Prague I had a new mission. Yep, to find the locations in the video, and I am very grateful that George is a good sport and helped me find them. My pictures are in the areas and general proximity, not exact.

Around the brown brick building on the left of this photo could be the first scene where a guard walks out at the beginning of the video

The riverbank

(Just another part of the river with a city view)

I am sitting under the lamp post were the first scene on the Charles Bridge was

The park on the Castle side of the river, with the bridge in view

City view

On the Charles Bridge

They had scenes in the old Jewish cemetery, my photo is at the gate since we didn't go in

]]>Oh Vienna...(the Ultravox song from 1981)tag:travellerspoint.com,2015-06-21:/blog/?domain=woa&thisblog_entryid=126&entryid=5714242015-06-23T18:25:43Z2015-06-23T18:25:43Z
The name 'Vienna' had first come to us in different ways. For me, (George) I think I first encountered 'Vienna' while watching Bugs Bunny's 'Tales from the Vienna Woods' cartoon. It was a cartoon that cleverly infuses humor into the classic musical composition by Johann Strauss. I probably first heard 'On the Beautiful Blue Danube' also while watching Bugs Bunny but became enamored with it while w ...The name 'Vienna' had first come to us in different ways. For me, (George) I think I first encountered 'Vienna' while watching Bugs Bunny's 'Tales from the Vienna Woods' cartoon. It was a cartoon that cleverly infuses humor into the classic musical composition by Johann Strauss. I probably first heard 'On the Beautiful Blue Danube' also while watching Bugs Bunny but became enamored with it while watching Stanley Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey'. That waltz piece seemed perfectly aligned with ships floating in space in a kind of elegant marriage between past and future human accomplishments. Thinking about it now, I believe that particular scene greatly inspired me to become a filmmaker. I supposed I've always loved classical music from a very early age and the name 'Vienna' always seemed synonymous with beautiful music. For Andrea, it seems the Ultravox song (and music video from MTV days) had enough of an impact on her that she decided to title this blog post after the chorus in the song.

How did we get to Vienna? We left the sunny beaches of Spain and flew to Vienna, Austria using one of the cheap discount airlines. Vienna welcomed us with cloudy skies and cooler weather. However, the weather changes from sunny-to-cloudy-to-rain-to-sunny again. As the saying goes in Europe, "If you don't like the weather, just wait five minutes." We see rain in the forecast during our five-day stay, and it has rained nearly every evening when we are in our nice hotel, streaming classical music from KDFC in San Francisco. The falling rain adds an inspiring and poetic element.Vienna is a very walkable and bike-friendly city. It has been named one of the world's "most livable cities" and you quickly see why. The architecture is grand and astonishing as are the parks and platzs. On one day, we visited the only apartment of Mozart still preserved in Vienna. He lived there Sept. 1784 to Apr. 1787, where he composed numerous chamber pieces and the famous opera "The Marriage of Figaro".

Here are some photos of our wanderings for now. Happy Summer Solstice.

The Ankeruhr clock that puts on quite a performance at noon!

Roses in the VolksgartenWe rented bikes and rode around the city and along the Danube. As we were riding along, we saw an old lady in front of us walking, wearing a scarf on her head, shoes on her feet, carrying her purse. Apparently this area is 'clothing-optional'. Further along were older men sans attire as well.

George made a new friend who clung to his hand! Yep, a schmetterling!

We stopped by a community garden and saw the Ferris Wheel of an amusement park, and rode paths along the rivers.

Next we are heading to the Czech Republic including Prague. Then it is off to Poland.